Here's a useful article from Steve here at the shop!


Model building is an enjoyable pastime that can be made even more enjoyable by having the right tools. I spent most of my adult life overseas, many years in third-world countries, so didn’t always have access to the sophisticated special-purpose tools available here. Now, I really appreciate how much easier a well-equipped workbench makes things (guess that’s a pun?) So, without further ado, I hereby offer my suggestions on what tools are essential to produce top quality models. I’d appreciate hearing your suggestions as to what I may have left out, or questions as to why I’ve included certain tools or how to use them. Enjoy!


ESSENTIAL TOOLS
for
(a) building scale structures

No.1 X-acto knife w/ no. 11 blades
HO steel scale ruler
Pin vise w/ drill bits
Miniature miter box and saw
NWSL Chopper (II) or equivalent
Fine grit sandpaper
Coarse grit sandpaper
Needle files
Medium/small size regular file
Sanding block
Ponce wheels
CA glue
Wood glue (both light and dark)
Rubber cement
Fine tweezers
Sprue cutter
Jeweler’s needle-nose pliers
Magnetic gluing jig

(b) building locomotives and rolling stock
(as above plus)

Jeweler’s center punch
Dremel Moto-tool or other rotary tool
Jeweler’s hammer


ESSENTIAL DECORATING MATERIALS FOR SCALE MODELS

Paint thinner
Gray spray primer
Red spray primer
Flat white spray paint
Flat black spray paint
Flat matte spray
Weathering chalks (either powder or stick)

VERY DESIRABLE DECORATING MATERIALS

Air brush and compressor
Color ink-jet copier